In the Realm of Reality
I knew I shouldn't have gone out that day. I was not so naïve not to
know what could happen. It was a presidential visit to Dallas just a few
weeks before the election. I knew security would be tight yet I felt an
urge to be out on the street. Tons of people filled the streets to see
the president’s motorcade. And because of the ongoing war, I
expected to see hundreds of anti-war demonstrators. Most likely I
would’ve known some of them from the Peace Center where I met
them during the months prior to the war in Iraq. I hoped to see familiar
faces and to pass the time. I didn’t want to be alone, it didn’t look
good. I wasn't there exactly to see the president, I had to justify my
presence. I needed an alibi.
Surprisingly there were no demonstrators and I saw no familiar
faces. That seemed odd, considering the unpopularity of this war.
Everyone calmly awaited the motorcade. I knew all sorts of security
agents would be there in plain clothes. As much as I wanted to identify
the secret agents by the why they acted or dressed, I was too scared
to do so. Such ill-timed curiosity would be very suspicious-especially if
it came from someone who looked like me.
After September the 11th I knew people like me should be careful in
public especially in events like this one. On several occasions I
noticed people were uncomfortable around me. I had learned my
lesson. I even published several pieces of satire on this same issue.
Down deep inside, I could not blame people for their racial profiling.
But if I was to be discriminated against, I hoped it would be in a
McDonald's or Wal-Mart so I could have a legal ground to sue the hell
out of them. My looks could have come to my rescue at least once!
But contrary to my expectations, that never happened.
I had a bizarre feeling of a guiltless man on the run, waiting to get
caught just to prove his innocence. As hard as I tried to act normal, it
was impossible. I felt so out of the place and my anxiety was so
transparent. Contrary to my expectations however, I didn't see
anyone eyeing me or paying any attention to my presence. In the
midst of this wonderment, I bumped into someone I knew, Bob my next
door neighbor in the apartment complex where I lived. Surprisingly
enough, today he was not in his police uniform. Could he be one of
the undercover agents? Was it possible to be a police officer and an
undercover agent at the same time? I wondered.
Seeing a familiar face in the crowd comforted me, finally I had
someone to talk to and make my presence justifiable. He hadn't
noticed me yet otherwise he would’ve waved at me, we were
neighbors for three years now. Anytime I was out by the swimming
pool drinking a beer or barbecuing, he approached me and initiated
political conversations. He just enjoyed listening to me, I thought. He
would make a broad comment and let me do the talking. Seemingly he
respected my views and I had a good reason to talk.
Now he was standing about 20 yards away from me unaware of my
presence. I walked toward him to say hello and as I reached him he
suddenly pivoted, grabbed my wrist, twisted it behind my back, and in
a split second I was handcuffed. Before I could react to the situation, I
turned into a captured criminal. I was paralyzed under the gaze of
crowd and couldn't utter a word. In a matter of minutes, three other
plain clothe men approached us. Now I could see how undercover
agents look like. I was looking for an alibi as they escorted me to a
patrol car. How could Bob he do this to me? Why? I wondered.
In the police car, the secret service agents asked me a few simple
questions and I responded. Then they sincerely apologized for the
inconvenience and let me go. To my utmost surprise, the entire
ordeal did not last more than a few minutes. I’d been interrogated
much harsher than this by the airport securities. But why this damn
Bob would put me through this? I had to find him and give him a piece
of my mind. I walked back to the crowd vindicated and the only thing
on my mind was to find this fucking Bob. As I reached the same spot
that I was arrested a few minutes ago, I saw the devil standing there
as if nothing had happened. I shrieked, "what the f... ?"
"I'm sorry man, I really am. Forgive me please. I owe you an
apology," he pleaded.
"Forgive you, for what? For humiliating me in public like that?"
"When I saw you here today, I could not believe it. It suddenly
seemed a premonition coming true. The nightly news, the terrorists
sleeping cells, and you being a Middle Eastern and all... "
"Just because of my damn looks you put me through this? Do you
remember the sizzling pieces of lamb kabobs off my grill? The ones I
generously offered and you gorged like starving animals? This is how
you repay my friendly gestures?"
"But it’d have meant a lot to me and my career if you really were a
terrorist? It would’ve changed my life. I would’ve been a hero." Bob
reasoned.
"But you’ve known me for years you nincompoop."
"I told you I was hoping you would be one of them. Why someone
like you show up here today? What do you expect me to think? That
you came here to cheer the president? Come on!"
As absurd as his logic was, it made sense. This is the reaction I was
afraid to see from people in such occasions. It confirmed my fear.
Bob said, "The truth is that I had a dream about this last night. I saw
that something horrible was about to happen today and I was the only
one who could prevent it. And then you showed up here."
"Oh! I see now. You dreamed you would be a hero. Your picture
would be on Television every night. You hoped to get famous and
probably write a book and make millions, all at my expense. Damn you
Bob! Tell me something? Did you see me in your dreams? Did you
see my face?"
"Not really, it was blurry. But I saw a Middle Eastern man trying to
assassinate the president. And then I saw you here today. What do
you want me to think? I am sorry man. But you were the best
candidate. Besides, I don't see anyone else like you in this crowd.
You could be my winning lottery ticket." He sincerely admitted.
I sighed, "You want to hear something interesting? I had a dream too
last night. I dreamed this whole fiasco. I saw that I’d get in trouble
today. Most of the things that happened just now I dreamed last night.
But I couldn't stop myself from coming here. I had to see it for myself."
Bob suddenly threw his hands in the air: "Now you see? You are not
as innocent as you pretend to be. This entire shenanigan is your
fault. So I was not the only dreamer here. I bet you are planning to
write this shit, too."
"Yes of course. It was my dream, my fear and I can do whatever I
want to do with it."
"So it's OK for you to dream and not for me."
"But my dream didn't cause you any trouble? Did it? Your dream
could have put me behind bars for years. Don't you see the
difference?"
"Did you really see my face in your dream? Was I the one who
arrested you?"
"No it was all blurry, I just saw an idiot cop arresting me for no
reason. Obviously we both are dreamers. But my dreams are
harmless, yours are not." I said.
"You see we both have ambitions. We both hoped to get something
out of this, each in our own way. I don't think you are in a position to
blame me for anything. We both acted upon our dreams. I made you
a story, you’re the winner here."
"You used me to get to what you wanted. That is flat wrong." I said.
Bobs said, "You’ll write this the way you want. You’ll twist it and turn it
however you wish. After all it’s your story and not mine. My dream is
over but yours is just beginning. Now you tell me, whose dream is
coming true?"
Based on a real dream